Cut-out stitching machine



March 22, 1932 A. s. LIEB GUT-OUT STITCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l into Hwy:

1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 22, 1932. A. 5 LEE CUT-OUT STITCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10.

March 22, 1932. 5 LEE CUT-OUT STITCITIING MACHINE '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1929 gwventoz Rhine/1 March 22', 1932; A 5, LEE 1,850,888

CUT-OUT STITCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 iiitomwa v E GE Patented Mar. 22, 1932 UNITED sr Ts ABRAM SOLOMON LIEB, or BINGHAMTON, new YORK our-our s'rrrrcmne MACHINE Application filed December 10, 1929. Serial No. 413,007.

The present invention relates to mechanism for use in the manufacture of shoes, and more particularly to a device for stitching around ornamental or other cutout openings in a shoe upper.

Ordinarily, in stitching around these openings, the operator uses a sewing machine of more or less conventional type, by manipulatin a cutout upper inthe machine, using the eye as a guide in feeding the work between the base of the machine and the feed or presser wheel. It is rather difiicult however, for an operator, in stitching around cutouts, to get the stitchinguniformly spaced from the edge of the opening, and as a consequence a great deal of poor work results, viz., either irregular stitching, or stitching which runs off and on the work. In this latter case, the work will open up and parts of the upper will separate, where the stitching has run off.

Accordingly, an. object of the present invention resides in the provision of a positive means to guide the stitching of cutouts whereby to prevent irregular or incomplete stitching thereof,

Another object is the provision of a guide which may be quickly and easily applied to the work and easily removed, without however slowing down the operation, and which may be used during a continuous, uninter rupted stitching of the upper- To the accomplishment of these, and other objects which appear as the description proceeds, the invention contemplates the use of a roller spindle located adjacent theneedle bar and engageable with the work, which spindle has a reduced portion atits lower end, adapted to fit a rigid portion of the machine, and attached by means of a rod to operating mechanism on the sewing. machine, controlled by a. knee lift, or a treadle, and actuatable by the operator to raise or lower the spindle, from the work. V

The device may be made as an attachment to the machine or may be built into the ma chine as a part thereof, the machine itself being improved and given new functions by the combination of the device therewith.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings inv which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine showing the guide and operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an end elevationof the machine with its cover plate removed to show details of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a detail in plan of the base of. the

machine diagrammatically showing the work in position;

Fig. 4; is a section on line 4.'4 ofFig. 1, looking down; i

Fig. 5 is a detail of the throat plate of the I machine from below; I

Fig. 6 is a disassembled view in perspective of the guide and guide bar;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing relatlon of the needle and guide in the work;

Fig. 8 is a section through the work and throat plate; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one style of work which may be accomplished by the invention.

More specifically, the invention comprises a stitching machine having a base 10, supsuitable treadle or knee lift (not shown).

The otherend ofthe bar 13 is formed with a finger 15 positioned to engage a crank arm s 16, which is fast toone end of a rock shaft 17 mounted on the head 12.

The other end of this; shaft has fastened thereto a crank arm 18. The end '19 of this crank arm is provided with a slidable pin 20 having a thumb screw 21. at its outer end. Mounted for vertical reciprocation in the head 12 is a guide bar 22,v located adjacent the presser bar 23 and the needle bar 24. This guide bar 22-is provided witha notch 25 and a projection 26 immediately above the notch. The slidable pin 20 is positioned by the crank arm 18 so that its inner end will extend into the notch 25, and immediately below the projection 26. I q

It will thus be seen that when the link 14 is pulled downwardly, the forward end of the bar 13, and the finger 15 will be raised to engage the crank arm 16 and thus raise the pin 20 which in turn will raise the guide bar 22. The pin may be retracted by means of the thumb screw 21 when desired, and released from engagement with the bar 22. Normally, the pin is urged resiliently toward the bar, by any suitable means, as for example, the spring latch 38 (Fig. 4).

The lower end of this guide bar is provided with a fitting 27 (Fig. 6) and a guide member 28 attached thereto by means of screws 29 which extend through a slot 30 in the upper end of the guide. The'lower end of the guide comprises a reduced portion 31 having mounted thereabove a roller 32.

In the use of the device the reduced portion 31 will extend into an opening 33 of the throat plate 34 and the roller 32 will extend into the cutout or opening of the work (Fig. 7), the roller being engageable with the outer edge 35 of the cutout portion.

The throat plate 3 1 differs somewhat from the conventional plate in the provision of an adjustable guide plate 36, which is provided with a slot and set screw, as indicated at 37 to permit adjustment and to accommodate different widths of stitching from the needle. The forward end of this plate 36 is perforated as at 33 to receive the reduced end 31 of the guide.

The guide bar 22 is provided at its upper end with a finger 39 to which is attached a tension spring 40 having its other end connected to the head of the machine, effective to normally pull the bar 22 downward. It will be obvious, of course that with slight modification a compression spring might be used in lieu of the tension spring 40.

If desired any suitable means such as an additional spring connecting the bar 13 to the frame of the machine may be provided to hold the rear end of this bar upward, but for ordinary purposes the spring 40 will be suflicient, as the bar 22 by virtue of its connections to the crank arms 18 and 16, will retain the finger 15 in a downward position until the bar 13 is actuated by the link 14.

In the operation of the device the operator places a piece of work 4.5, usually laminated and having a series of cutouts 35, under the presser bar 23, and the presser roll 46 cooperating with the feed dogs 47, functions in the customary manner, during subsequent stitching of the work. As soon as the work is placed in the machine, manipulation of the lever 13 lowers the guide 28 until the reduced portion 31 is positioned in the opening 33, and the roller 32 is in contact with the outer circumference of the cutout opening. Inasmuch as this guide is mounted in fixed relation, transversely, with respect to the presser bar and the needle bar it will be seen that by maintaining the edge of the cutout in contact with the roller 32, the needle will always stitch the work the same distance from the edge of the opening.

When the stitching around one cutout is completed, the operator raises the guide from the opening and carries the stitching to the next cutout, as indicated at 18, (Figure 9), and then proceeds to lower theguide into the next cutout to be stitched.

It will be noted that the provision of the opening 33 in the throat plate 34 acts to keep the guide spindle in a rather rigid position, as the work is fed thereabout, and it will be apparent that the entire guide may be withdrawn from the cutout and from the opening in the throat plate as the operator reaches the ends of the cutouts or when going from one cutout to another.

It will also be apparent that while the device is described as operable by a treadle or knee lift under control of the operator, that same could be made automatically operable, within the scope of this invention; that is to say, the guide could be controlled so that as the end of a desired amount of stitching around a cutout is accomplished, the guide would be retracted from the cutout until the next cutout or opening was reached.

Instances are contemplated in which a solid pin may be used as a guide, but such use is not the most desirable in those cases in which a plurality of cutouts are to be stitched, on the same piece of work, for the reason that it would be necessary with a solid pin guide to stitch each hole separately, then stop and break the thread, then lift the guide from the work and repeat. WVith the preferred method of cutout stitching any single needle machine may be used, and the operator instead of guiding the stitching by eye, a slow and not uniform operation, will use the movable roller guide as described, and thus the stitching will be very much simplified, especially for the various shaped openings.

Heretofore in stitching various shaped openings, particularly, the operator must drop down on the speed of work, and the work is very hard to control. With the guide, stitching can be accomplished around the holes just as fast as on a straightaway, that is, at top speed with the stitching held true to the cutout, because the guide controls the cutout position.

By supplyingmeans to lift the guide out of the way, while continuously stitching to the next cutout, and means to drop the guide back into its original position without stopping the machine, without breaking the thread, and without lifting the work, but

with a continuous stitching, the entire amount of work accomplished by a given operator is materially increased, as well as markedly improved in appearance and utility.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is 1. A cutout stitching machine having a frame, a work support, and work feeding means including a member adapted to engage therwork at a point adjacent the needle,means on said frame to stitch around a cutout in the work, and means independent of said work engaging member, engageable with the inside edge of the cutout, to guide the work relative to said stitching means, said guide means being so located as to be always visible from above the work.

2. A cutout stitching machine having a frame, a work support, and work feeding means including a member adapted to engage the work at a point adjacent the needle, means on said frame to stitch around a cutout in the work, and means movable independently of said work engaging member, engageable with the inside edge of the cutout, to guide the work relative to saidstitchmg means,said guide means being so located as to be-always visible from above the work.

3. A cutout stitching machine havinga frame, a work support, and means on said frame to feed the work and to stitch around a cutout in the work, means movable inclependently of said feeding means, engageable with the inside edge of the cutout, to guide the work relative tosaid stitching means, and means to adjust the guide means, said guide means being so located as to be always visible from above the work.

4:. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame, and a work feeding means including a presser member adapted to engage the work, means on said frame to stitch around the cutout in the work, means independentof said presser member enga-geable with the inside edge of the cutout, to guide the work relative to said stitching means, and means to raise the guide means from the work.

5. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame, and a work support, work feeding and stitching means adapted to engage the work, and stitch around'a cutout in the work, means independent of said feeding means, engageable with the inside edge of the cutout to guide the work relative to said stitching means, and means pivoted on the frame to raise the guide from the work.

6. A cutout stitching machine having a frame, a Work, support, and work feeding means including a pressure member adapted to engage the work, means on said frame to stitch around cutouts in the work, and means,

independent of said presser member to guide the work relative to said stitching means in cluding a spindle adapted to project down into the cutout.

7. A cutout stitching machine having a frame, a work support, and work feeding means including a presser memberadapted to engage the work, means on said frame to dependent of said presser member toguidethe work-relative tosaid stitching means including a spindle adapted to project down into the cutout, and means to raise and lower said spindle relative to the work.

8. A cutout stitching machine having a frame, a work support, and work feeding means including a presser member adapted to engage the work, means on said frame to stitch around cutouts'inthe work, means independent of said feeding means to guide the work relative to said stitching means including a spindle adapted to project down into the cutout, and a roller on said spindle engageable with the edge of the cutout.

9. A cutout stitching machine having a frame, a work support, and work feeding means including a pressure member adapted to engage the work means on said frame to stitch around cutouts in the work, means independent of said feeding meansto guide the work relative to said stitching'means includ ing apspindle adapted to project down into vthe cutout, and a roller on said spindle'engageable with the edgeof said cutout, and

ineans to raise and lower said spindle relative to the work.

10. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame, a work support, and work feeding means including a presser member adapted to engage the work means on said frame to stitch the work, means independent of said presser member to guide the work relative to said stitching means, means on said work support to engage and rigidly retam said gulde means 1n guiding p0s1t1on,

and means to raise and lower the guide means relative to the work. v i

11. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame, a work support, and'work feeding means including a presser member adapted to engage the work 'means on said frame to stitch around cutouts in the work, means independent of said presser member to guide the workrelative to said stitching means including a member adapted to project into the cutout, means to raise and lower said member relative to the cutout, and means engageablewith said member, when in the cutout,to rigidly retain said member in position. Y

12. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame and work support, means on said frameto stitch around cutouts in the work, and means to guide the work relative to said stitching means including a spindle adapted to project into the cutout, said spindle hav-' ing aportion of reduced diameter engageable with the machine frame below the cutout.

13. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame and work support, means on said frameto stitch around cutouts in the work,

to project into the cutout, said spindle having a portion of reduced diameter engageable with the machine frame below the cutout, and having a roller above said portion engageable with the edge of the cutout.

14. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame and work support, means on said frame to stitch around cutouts in the work, means to guide the work relative to said stitching means including a spindle adapted to project into the cutout, said spindle having a portion of reduced diameter engageable with the machine frame below the cutout, and having a roller above said portion engageable with the edge of the cutout, and means pivoted on the frame to raise the spindle from the cutout.

15. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame, a work support, and work feeding means including a presser member adapted to engage the work means on said frame to stitch the work, means independent of said presser member to guide the work relative to said stitching means, and adjustable means on said work support to engage and rigidly retain said guide means in guiding position.

16. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame and a work support, means on said frame to stitch the work, means to guide the work relative to said stitching means, and a slidable perforated plate on said frame engageable by said guide means to rigidly retain said means in guiding position.

17. An attachment for sewing machines of the type adapted to stitch around cutouts and having a work feeding means including a presser member adapted to engage the work comprising a guide spindle independent of said presser member having means to attach the same to a moving part on the machine, above the work, and a portion engageable with the interior of the cutout to be stitched, thereby to retain said work in predetermined position relative to the needle of the machine.

18. An attachment for sewing machines of the type adapted to stitch around cutouts, comprising a guide spindle and a roller thereon engageable with the interior of the cutout to be stitched, thereby to retain said work in predetermined position relative to the needle of the machine, said spindle having a portion of reduced diameter at its lower end below the roller.

19. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame, a work support, and work feedin g means including a presser member adapted to engage the work means to stitch around cutouts in the work, and means independent of said presser member to guide the work relative to said stitching means including a spindle adapted to project down into the cutout, said spindle having a portion engageable with the machine frame below the cutout.

20. A cutout stitching machine comprising a frame and work support, means to stitch around cutouts in the work, and means to guide the work relative to said stitching means including a spindle adapted to project down into the cutout, said spindle having a portion engageable with the machine frame below the cutout, and having a roller above said portion engageable with the edge of the cutout.

21. The method of stitching around a cutout in a shoe upper which comprises feeding the work by engagement of the work between a presser member, and a feeding member, stitching around the edge of a cutout as the work is fed, guiding the work independently of the feeding, by inserting a guide from above, into the cutout, guiding the Work thereby, from the edge of the cutout, relative to the line of stitching and simultaneously with the stitching operation.

22. The method of stitching a plurality of cutouts in shoe uppers, which comprises feeding the work by engagement of the work between a presser member and a feeding member, continuously stitching from the beginning of one cutout to the end of another as the work is fed, guiding the work independently of the feeding by inserting a guide from above in a cutout, guiding the work thereby from the edge of each cutout, relative to the line of stitching, and simultaneously with the stitching operation, and interrupting the guiding operation by removing the guide from the cutout when work is fed and the stitching is carried from one cutout to another.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signatur ABRAM SOLOMON LIEB. 

